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dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
Cryptozoology A to Z is an encyclopedia of cryptids, cryptozoologists, and things of that nature.
Not long after I first learned to read books on my own, I was super into ghosts, UFOs, and monsters, specifically Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, and the like. When you're young, the world is huge and there's still room in it for dinosaurs and such. Anyway, now I'm into stuff like this for entertainment purposes, though I made my wife go with me to the Cryptozoology museum in Portland Maine and think there's a good chance there are relict populations of Tasmanian Tigers out there.
Anyway, this is breezy, fun dive into the world of Cryptozoology, detailing such characters as Tom Slick, Loren Coleman, and Ruth Harkness and creatures such as Orang Pendek, Almas, and the Mongolian Death Worm, in addition to the usual suspects like Bigfoot and Nessie. One of my favorite parts of this book is an account of the Lawndale Incident when a giant bird allegedly tried to carry off a young by in an Illinois town in 1977.
This book entertained the shit out of me, partly for nostaligic reasons and partly because there's a tiny part of me that still wants there to be mysterious creatures in far off corners of the world. My main gripe with the book is that it could have used a dose of skepticism. I've heard various accounts of how the famous Surgeon's Photo of the Loch Ness Monster was debunked in the 1970s but it was presented as fact here. The writing goes all in on the approach of most of the cryptids being presented as fact, something I don't buy into in a book written for adults. On a related note, how can someone be an expert on a creature that might not even exist?
As long as you don't take it as a serious scientific work, Cryptozoology A to Z is great for a few hours of entertainment and a brief return to childhood dreams of hunting for monsters. Three out of five stars.
Not long after I first learned to read books on my own, I was super into ghosts, UFOs, and monsters, specifically Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, and the like. When you're young, the world is huge and there's still room in it for dinosaurs and such. Anyway, now I'm into stuff like this for entertainment purposes, though I made my wife go with me to the Cryptozoology museum in Portland Maine and think there's a good chance there are relict populations of Tasmanian Tigers out there.
Anyway, this is breezy, fun dive into the world of Cryptozoology, detailing such characters as Tom Slick, Loren Coleman, and Ruth Harkness and creatures such as Orang Pendek, Almas, and the Mongolian Death Worm, in addition to the usual suspects like Bigfoot and Nessie. One of my favorite parts of this book is an account of the Lawndale Incident when a giant bird allegedly tried to carry off a young by in an Illinois town in 1977.
This book entertained the shit out of me, partly for nostaligic reasons and partly because there's a tiny part of me that still wants there to be mysterious creatures in far off corners of the world. My main gripe with the book is that it could have used a dose of skepticism. I've heard various accounts of how the famous Surgeon's Photo of the Loch Ness Monster was debunked in the 1970s but it was presented as fact here. The writing goes all in on the approach of most of the cryptids being presented as fact, something I don't buy into in a book written for adults. On a related note, how can someone be an expert on a creature that might not even exist?
As long as you don't take it as a serious scientific work, Cryptozoology A to Z is great for a few hours of entertainment and a brief return to childhood dreams of hunting for monsters. Three out of five stars.
guarinous's review against another edition
2.0
Woefully out of date by this point, but I could accept that if not for some other factors dragging it down, such as endless regional entries on Sasquatch/Sea Monsters that could have been put together under one banner entry and entries on countless Bigfoot researchers that become monotonous (the author gives himself a nearly two page entry as well.)
Bigfoot himself is presented in this in almost reverential tones. Clearly the authors are massive believers.
No entry on Mothman either.
Bigfoot himself is presented in this in almost reverential tones. Clearly the authors are massive believers.
No entry on Mothman either.
zoraidasolo's review against another edition
raynestorm's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly Entertaining and Informative
This is an excellent read for those who want to quickly know a great deal about cryptozoology. The book is well laid-out, and it never feels like it drags on for too long.
That said, it is an encyclopedia. A straight read-through could be far too dense for some. For me, though, it was perfect.
This is an excellent read for those who want to quickly know a great deal about cryptozoology. The book is well laid-out, and it never feels like it drags on for too long.
That said, it is an encyclopedia. A straight read-through could be far too dense for some. For me, though, it was perfect.
casskay's review against another edition
4.0
As a fantasy writer, I love all reference books about history of obscure creatures and species. This collection contains the misfits that don't fit in other reference book as easily, like the Loch Ness Monster and Big Foot. The content is great and the factual following of sightings and time lines is well organized. My only complaint would be the lack of artwork. There are some pictures but I wanted more to inspire my writer brain.
jasminenoack's review against another edition
2.0
so this is a book for people who haven't met Occam. I mean lets be real some people see a panther in england for a while, clearly this is an unidentified species not a panther that escaped from a zoo...
there is a yeti, since he lives in such a remote area this may be true, there are like a hundred yetis in different locations... this is true for all of them...
it looks like an orangutan but has less hair. clearly this is a new species not just a sick orangutan...
not to mention the hundreds of apparent lake and sea monsters...
there is a yeti, since he lives in such a remote area this may be true, there are like a hundred yetis in different locations... this is true for all of them...
it looks like an orangutan but has less hair. clearly this is a new species not just a sick orangutan...
not to mention the hundreds of apparent lake and sea monsters...
librarimans's review against another edition
3.0
I like that this included animals that started as rumor but actually exist (like the coelacanth) in addition to more fantastic things like the Mokele-mbembe or Nessie. I do wish that there was less page space dedicated to cryptozoologists and more dedicated to the actual animals.